Lily looking for Gar at Econ. We have been out a few times with the bow, and she has only been able to take a handful shots. We couldn't find any gar that day, but it is always a beautiful walk. I did manage a nice bass on topwater, but Scalelily was unimpressed. 

I found Gemini springs using a Google satellite image. You could see Tilapia beds in the image, so we crossed our fingers and drove up to scout it out. They were there in force, along with a sign that only allowed fishing from the pier. There were no beds by the pier, so Lily quickly learning the disappointment side of fishing and the overuse of rules and signs around local waters. She wasn't very happy.
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I took her to another spot where my brother and his friends frequently shoot Tilapia. One of the people, who live on the private side of the lake, called OPD. We got the siren and then a voice over the loud speaker telling her to drop the bow. She froze and couldn't understand him so he asked again and I told her to put it on the ground. he said we couldn't shoot there, but according to FWC regulations, I told him we could. I read the regulations before we left and I have been there, at another lake, when the police were called on my brother and his friend. Peter explained to him then that we were well within our rights and that as long as you can fish then you can bowfish. The restrictions are species. You can't shoot bass, but you can definitely shoot gar and Tilapia. I recommend Tilapia because they are much easier to clean. Anyhow, the police officer and his back up ended up being nice guys and we joked that they would rather her bow fish then turn to a life of crime and drugs, but certain people had to call about everything. Anyway, it's good to question authority in a respectful manner, when you know the law is in your favor. Make sure you read your regulations; police officers have enough to deal with, especially thanks to "concerned citizens", who would prefer no fishing signs everywhere.

Still love to fish, and I recently sold my canoe, so I will be looking for a kayak here soon. I really like the pedal drives with the ability to go in reverse, but I may have to lean toward a tandem, like the Big Tuna instead, because it sounds like Lily wants to do some saltwater with me. Here are some pics of some  fish taken by me and friends of mine this year. 

Getting ready for spring. I lost my favorite spinning outfit a few episodes ago, but I purchased a Penn Battle and Fierce combo, and have been very impressed thus far. I put 20 lb. braid on the Battle and 8 pound stern on the Fierce. They both cat a mile and have already seen several bass on each, can't wait to chase some reds and flap jacks.

Lily has always preferred the more direct approach when fishing. She doesn't have my patience and persistence with rod and reel and would prefer sight fish. I remember the first time she saw me throw a cast net, and she wanted to do it herself, but was far too small at the time. Her and her sister kept asking me to throw it so they could see the little fish, shrimp and crabs that got caught in the mesh. Not too many years later, a buddy of mine gave her a smaller net to throw, and she mastered it one day, to the dismay of the local Tilapia. Now, my little Katniss wants a bow, but the Tilapia are not yet on the beds, so we practice. Move forward to recent weeks and there was a PSE Kingfisher set on sale at our new Academy Sports, so now Lily is starting the archery chapter of her life. Look out Tilapia, gar, plecos and soda bottles, strawberry Katniss is on the hunt.

In Orlando, there are a lot of Green spaces, and it's not hard to find water with Tilapia, but the trick is finding the clarity that you need to shoot. Make sure you look at the rules for the fish in your area. I had always assumed that carp were fair game because they are a non-native, and when they get big they no longer perform as well for weed removal. They are also, in my opinion, a nuisance to bedding bass, but for all that, it is still illegal to shoot a grass carp. Read your FWC site information for methods of taking fish and the species legal to take.

I remember sight fishing for bedding bass at Blanchard park when I was much younger. The water clarity wasn't there for us so we took a short canoe trip and then headed to Leaves and Roots for Lily's loose leaf tea. She loves a good book and a cup of Gun Powder tea.
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Not far from my work is a great little green space for exercise. Drew said I couldn't bring a fishing rod because this was to be a cardio gig, but she did take some pics of a crime scene, and we tried to figure out who the perpetrator  was. The place is called Shadow Bay park and it is on the corner of Turkey Lake and Conroy. The first pond is stalked with catfish but we have also caught bass and crappie in here. There are two smaller ponds you will come to on the path and I have tried the one with the long dock once, but with no success. 

Also, farewell to Frank, my wife's grandfather, he was a favorite and we will miss him. 

I work for the theme park industry and there is actually a lot of science and technology hiding underneath the screams and laughter of our gusets. It is beneath the facade of an English village or a 3D city, where spiderman rescues you as many times over as the line of people allows and the day is long. There are lights, projectors, sensors, motors, magnetism and gravity. Busch Gardens also has animals and many at that, so I am really excited to be here. This is the girl's first field trip with FLVS, and the physics show was great. They used a sloth to demonstrate a body at rest. A break dancer showed us a body in motion and Mr. Justin was crazy talented. He spun on his head, and supported his body on one hand with his legs parralel to the floor. 

I love Bush Gardens, and the rides are great, but don't ever think that is all that is there. It is well worth the trip just to walk the gardens with someone you care about and a camera so you can take pictures of the wonderful flora and fauna that is mingled throughout the park. Greeted by a Wallaby to start off your school day, how wonderful is that?

I think we were the first people to stop at the Kookaburra's enclosure, and so I made the noises as best I could remember and he flew over and gave us a song. Lovely animals, like Kingfishers on steroids and they were very vocal.

Great place for bird watchers and I didn't even make it in to one of the aviaries. Scarlet Ibis, Flamingos, Horn bills, some ducks and a strange yellow faced bird that were foreign to my knowledge, so I will have to do some investigating. 

I can't think of a better way to end the day then grabbing a Grouper sandwich at Frenchy's. The original cafe was closed for renovations, so we walked over to the one on the beach. What an awesome place to enjoy a sandwich, 76 degree weather, December, staring at the water and eating smoked fish dip. I love it! 

Apopka, in the Seminole language, means Potato eating people, of course, but some translate it "trout eating". There are, however, no trout that I am aware of in the lake, being that they prefer much cooler water. There are native Large mouth bass, catfish, sunfish of several varieties, crappie and sunshine bass. 

Another project for photography class, and as we move at the speed of the bird watchers, we find many a lovely subject. There must have been a hundred birders out that day. The weather was beautiful and it is the time of year for winter migration.

Besides the Coots, gallinules, herons and ospreys, there were flowers, turtles alligators and gar.

Lily is getting in to photography more this year and taking a class. She was tired of doing assignments around the house so we checked out a new nature preserve. This is a gopher tortoise she snapped as he retreated backwards into his burrow. She told me not to step on the apron because that is apparently where they lay their eggs. 

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It's cool to see her play around with more of the features on the camera than I do, and she get's some truly amazing shots. I can't explain the one below, but how weird was that. This is her Leopard gecko and model Pac Man.
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She captured the above beauties at Oakland Preserve, and also the youngsters below.
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Not sure on the identity of the caterpillar above, but back to Tibet-Butler and Lily with a geocache. We left the hoop from a key chain and signed in before putting it back. 

The early bird doesn't just get breakfast around here; he also gets refreshed. The last two times we tried to get in to Rock Springs at Kelly Park, we were turned away due to capacity. This time we left the comforts of bed and the company of many pillows, while it was still dark outside. It is my favorite of the springs near us and a beautiful park. Lily chose it to do her photography project and Power Point for school, so most of these pics were hers and I will note that with the Scalelily tag.​

Her assignment was pictures representing her day and the day also included an hour wait for the Park to open up.  So she took a picture of the bar where they rent the tubes and then pics along the fence line, where we were parked, waiting to get in. 

It's nice being the first people to the island and the water. The water is very clear and we noticed a large snapping turtle trying to flee the swimming area before it was over run. Lily jumped in and swam after him, getting some pretty cool under water shots. He was a mossy old guy, but beautiful and when my Scales approached, he stopped walking and held his ground. This wasn't the first time we were inspired but such a prehistoric looking water dragon.

The water is so cold at first touch. Even in the morning, the ambient temperature is pushing the upper 80's and that is without factoring in the humidity. It makes the water feel that much colder, but then you acclimate and don't want to get out. It is truly refreshing.

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